TPA prepares to launch cargo e-tracking system

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) plans to adopt an electronic cargo tracking note (e-CTN) through which movements of cargo bound for the Dar es Salaam port will be closely monitored.

The new system, due to become effective on September 1 this year, is part of on-going measures geared to “avoid undue delays and eliminate added cost to shippers,” TPA says in a statement.

Ghana was the first African country to adopt e-CTN in the first quarter of last year.

But, some shipping stakeholders at the Dar port are up in arms against the system, with the Tanzania Shipping Agents Association (Tasaa) arguing that the technology will lead to an increase of clearance costs.

Tasaa secretary Peter Kirigini told The Citizen in the city yesterday that they were against the introduction of e-CTN as well as the way that TPA has handed the adoption process.

“We are wondering why TPA has decided to introduce e-CTN without involving major stakeholders, including the regulator, Surface and Maritime Transport Regulatory Authority,” Mr Kirigini claimed during a phone interview.

TPA director general Madeni Kipande declined to give a comment. “I don’t know you. Send your inquires to me in writing,” he briefly said before he hung the phone up.

A public notice published last week by the office of the TPA said, the authority has entered into a contract with Antaser Afrique BVBA to implement e-CTN services at the global level.

“Procedures require an e-CTN to be completed at the loading port for each Bill of Lading by the shopper or his forwarder.

After control of its contents and of the mandatory attached documents (copy of the BL, commercial invoice, and export customs declaration) the e-CTN will be validated by Antaser and released electronically to the shopper,” reads part of the TPA public notice.

According to TPA, effective September 1, validated e-CTN will be a mandatory document in the process of (transit) customs clearance at all Tanzania’s ports and cargo arriving without it will be blocked for delivery until validation is made by by Antaser.

Tasaa contends the condition, arguing that TPA has nothing to do with cargo outside the port. “We are wondering why the TPA involves itself with cargo which have not entered its jurisdiction and without involving us,” lamented Mr Kirigini.

He said that it was amazing that several months ago TPA had mandated Tasaa to study on the possibility of introducing e-CTN.

In the course of the study, Mr Kirigini said, Tasaa established that many major stakeholders were unaware of the system and its effects to their activities and the national economy, and it called for more time to provide educate the key players.

“But, before we reached a conclusion, TPA issued a notice last week that e-CTN will start on September 1.

And as far as we understand, Sumatra, which is the regulator in the sector, is yet to be informed about these latest developments,” said Mr Kirigini.

In a last Friday letter in response to the TPA notice, Tasaa urges its members and ports worldwide to disregard the TPA notice and requested immediate intervention by Sumatra.

But Sumatra director general, Mr Ahmad Kilima, could not give detailed information on the issue, saying his office was not officially informed of the new developments.

“Please, call me on Monday. I am going to check what you have asked and by that time I will be in a position to comment,” he said.

Information obtained by this paper noted that introduction of e-CTN would most likely add to the costs incurred by shippers to the tune of up to $150 per containerised cargo.

However, the positive side of e-CTN is that, it provides real-time access to detailed pre-arrival information on all shipments, thus improving information dissemination services to shippers.